Lead Bioinformatician - Genomics

Main area Lead Bioinformatician - Genomics Grade NHS AfC: Band 8c Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (A Saturday on-call rota in operation for all senior staff in the NWGLH) Job ref 349-SPH RL4

Site North-West Genomic Laboratory Hub Town Manchester Salary £79,504 - £91,609 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 17/08/:59

Job overview

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), host of the North-West Genomic Laboratory Hub (NWGLH), is seeking an experienced Lead Bioinformatician to provide strategic and operational leadership across the North-West Genomic Medicine Service (NW GMS).

This senior role will lead the design, development and delivery of bioinformatics pipelines and infrastructure to support genomic diagnostics across rare disease and cancer pathways. The post holder will ensure high-quality, timely, and compliant genomic analysis and contribute to regional and national bioinformatics strategy.

Main duties of the job

• Lead on all aspects of bioinformatics across the NW GMS.
• Develop, implement and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for NGS and WGS.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 15189 and data governance standards.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary bioinformatics teams.
• Ensure timely delivery of clinical bioinformatics outputs.
• Establish systems for secure storage and management of large genomic datasets.
• Collaborate with national organisations including Genomics England and NHS England.
• Drive innovation through research and adoption of emerging technologies.

Working for our organisation

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is a leading, integrated healthcare provider, the largest of its kind in specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, serving over 1 million people per year through our 10 hospitals and extensive community services. With a workforce of 30,000 plus, we are at the forefront of system leadership, innovation, and transformation across Greater Manchester.
As a senior manager, you will play a critical role in shaping and delivering our strategic objectives. You will lead complex programmes, drive operational excellence, and influence Trust-wide transformation, working collaboratively with or through Executive and Clinical Leaders to deliver sustainable improvements for our patients, staff, and communities.

MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, vision, and expertise are valued. You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, develop future talent, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, supported by advanced digital infrastructure and a commitment to professional development.
Join us to make a lasting impact-help shape the future of our Trust, drive innovation, and deliver outstanding care for the people of Manchester, Trafford and beyond.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you'll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the 'Supporting Documents' heading.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we're proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU-for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application-especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions-is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person specification Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of developing, advising and implementing bioinformatics solutions
• Experience at handling and interpreting genomic data including WGS
• Reviewing and evaluating the latest Bioinformatics tools and techniques
• Experience of software development in an object-oriented language
• Experience of leading, managing and developing teams
• Experience managing complex bioinformatics integration projects
• Experience in leading and managing change to improve service delivery
• Management of data storage
• Knowledge of NGS approaches, and statistical methods
• Thorough knowledge of bioinformatic tools for analysis and interpretation of genomic data
• Good knowledge of UNIX
• Programming or scripting language knowledge and experience
• Good knowledge of general managerial procedures
• Knowledge of data protection requirements
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of Microsoft applications
• Familiar with issues re. storage, backup, transmission, and sharing of large scale data
• Knowledge of ISO15189:2012 standards applied to bioinformatics
• Knowledge of human genetics
• Knowledge of requirements for Clinical Laboratory Accreditation (Bioinformatics)
• Analysis of microarray (CNV) data

Skills and Abilities

• High level of practical ability NGS analysis techniques
• Able to initiate and manage R&D activities
• Able to organise and manage complex activitiesAble to provide leadership and training to scientific, technical and clinical teams
• Able to maintain intense concentration on important tasks despite frequent interruptions
• Able to recognise patterns of abnormality and relate them to clinical situations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to prepare and present highly complex information for education and training
• Able to advise at Trust Board level on relevant areas of expertise
• Able to develop new policies and protocols
• Able to maintain self-control in difficult and challenging situations
• Self-confidence
• Compliance with MFT standards of behavior at all times
• Track record of contribution to peer reviewed publications

Training & Education

• Evidence of commitment to Continued Professional Development
• PhD or equivalent postgraduate qualification in bioinformatics OR PhD or equivalent postgraduate qualification in a human genomics-based discipline with a significant bioinformatics component
• Registered with the HCPC as Clinical Scientist / Clinical Bioinformatician

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Name David Gokhale Job title Development & Innovation Lead Email address

Please note that to ensure fairness, the answers to questions raised about this post may be shared with all applicants if appropriate.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Parkway 1
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Recruitment Office 1st Floor
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Manchester
M14 7LU
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